Lahore: Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan on Thursday said Pakistan was facing the devastating impacts of climate change, and efforts were underway to empower youth to respond to climate-related challenges, natural disasters and emergencies while promoting volunteerism at the national level.
Addressing a ceremony at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore, he said special focus was being given to the Green Youth Movement and National Volunteer Corps under the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme.
He said Green Youth Movement clubs had so far been established in 137 universities, while a target had been set to train 28,000 young people this year under a training module developed in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Rana Mashhood said the National Volunteer Corps was being prepared to enhance climate resilience, adding that 28,000 training sessions were being conducted this year in collaboration with the NDMA. A target had also been set to train 200,000 students with the support of the private sector, he added.
He said the Green Youth Movement and National Volunteer Corps were key initiatives of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme aimed at providing young people opportunities to contribute to national development, environmental protection, climate action and public service.
The chairman said UNICEF and NDMA had extended cooperation in various initiatives of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme. The training module developed with NDMA was equipping young people with skills to respond to natural disasters, climate risks and emergencies, he added.
He said the government wanted to equip youth to effectively present Pakistan’s position at the international level and highlight the country’s vulnerability to the adverse impacts of climate change.
Rana Mashhood said climate-friendly activities, research and awareness about climate change were being promoted in universities through the Green Youth Movement. He stressed the need to organise and train a large number of young people as volunteers to strengthen the country’s resilience to climate-related disasters.
He said Pakistan was facing serious climate challenges and called for greater international attention to countries affected by climate-related disasters.
Talking about education and technology, he said policy continuity was essential for the future of the country’s education system. He said UET was a globally recognised institution and its graduates were performing well in different parts of the world.
He said the world was rapidly moving towards artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies, adding that Pakistan was also making rapid progress in the AI sector and had introduced its AI policy.
The rapid pace of technological innovation meant that even curricula developed six months earlier could sometimes become outdated, he said, stressing that educational institutions needed to continuously update their curricula and training systems in line with emerging requirements.
Rana Mashhood said young people from every part of the country, including Wana, Waziristan, Kashmore and Balochistan, wanted to contribute to national development, adding that equal opportunities should be provided to all youth.
He said the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme was aimed at securing a future for young people within Pakistan and abroad by enabling them to utilise their skills and contribute to national development.
He said the first National Youth Employment Policy would be launched soon, while the National Green Youth Policy had been prepared in consultation with all provinces.
The chairman said the government believed in a strong federation and providing equal opportunities to youth from all parts of the country was essential for a stronger Pakistan.
He said Pakistan’s future was linked with its youth, adding that provision of modern education, skills, employment and development opportunities to young people remained among the government’s key priorities.